Barcelona - NouCamp Faithful

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by mrhardcore

barcelona is godly this season, don't be shock they win la liga and champions league.

xavi is playing like the great luis enrique, 100% central midfielder, box to box every match. he deserves to win the CL with barca.

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 3 - 1 Mallorca: Iniesta to the rescue

Andres Iniesta returned from injury to fire an important goal as Barcelona beat Mallorca 3-1 in the Primera Liga.

Iniesta was injured in Barcelona's 1-1 draw at home to FC Basle in the Champions League back in early November and had not played since.

But he stepped off the substitutes' bench to poke home the crucial second goal just as it seemed Mallorca might hold on for an unlikely point at the Nou Camp.

Aritz Aduriz gave the visitors a surprise lead after 15 minutes following some sloppy Barcelona defending, but Thierry Henry brought the Catalans level with a finely-taken equaliser on the half-hour mark.

The league leaders completely dominated the second half but were unable to find a way through until Iniesta's crucial strike 15 minutes from time.

Yaya Toure added an impressive third in the dying seconds after Mallorca had been reduced to 10 men following Josemi's dismissal.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Atletico Madrid 1 - 3 Barcelona: Messi hat trick

A superb Lionel Messi hat-trick gave Barcelona a 3-1 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last 16 King's Cup tie on Tuesday.

Barcelona made most of the early running at a chilly Vicente Calderon despite resting key players from the team who beat Real Mallorca at the weekend, including Xavi and Samuel Eto'o.

A deft piece of skill from Daniel Alves unlocked the Atletico defence for Messi's opening goal on 12 minutes.

The Argentine international played the ball inside and Alves sent a clever backheel through for him to run on and place a low shot past Gregory Coupet.

Atletico had to play with 10 men for most of the second half after defender John Heitinga felled Messi in the penalty area as he was racing to meet an Alves cross.

The referee showed the Dutchman a red card and Messi sent Coupet the wrong way to double Barca's lead before substitute Tomas Ujfalusi pulled a goal back just over 10 minutes later with a header from Simao Sabrosa's corner.

Messi completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes when he picked the ball up in the area, wrong-footed Coupet and lifted the ball into the roof of the net.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Osasuna 2 - 3 Barcelona: Messi nets winner....again

Two goals in the last 10 minutes saw Barcelona come from behind to beat a spirited Osasuna side 3-2 at the Reyno de Navarra in the Primera Liga and move 12 points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Samuel Eto'o put Barca in front with a low drive late in the first half after the league leaders had completely dominated the first 45 minutes.

But Miguel Flano equalised with a looping header just after the hour mark and Walter Pandiani fired the home side in to an improbable lead 10 minutes later.

Bottom club Osasuna looked then as if they may hold on for a much-needed victory, but Xavi and Lionel Messi both struck in the final 10 minutes to give Pep Guardiola's side a sixth consecutive league win - their 14th in the last 15 Primera Liga matches.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 5 - 0 Deportivo La Coruña: Barca in firing mood

Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o both struck twice as Barcelona thrashed 10-man Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 at the Nou Camp to amass a record total of 50 points at the league's halfway stage.

Lionel Messi gave Pep Guardiola's side the lead with a fine individual strike after 21 minutes and Henry headed the Catalans two up shortly afterwards following a fine cross by Dani Alves.

Eto'o then added a third four minutes before half-time to put the league leaders out of reach at the break.

Henry struck his second of the night late on from close range and Eto'o blasted home the fifth from the penalty spot after Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia had upended Carles Puyol.

The visitors were forced to finish the game with 10 men after Aranzubia was sent off for his challenge on the Barca captain.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[Himerus]

another great performance by Barcelona.
look like,the title is theirs to lose.

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 4 - 1 Numancia: Barca marches on

Barcelona's trusty trio of forwards all struck in the second half as the league leaders defeated a stubborn Numancia side 4-1 to move provisionally 15 points clear at the top of the Primera Liga.

Barca were frustrated in the first half by the plucky promoted outfit, but imposed themselves with a classy second-half performance.

Lionel Messi grabbed a brace, while Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry also scored to hand Pep Guardiola's side an eighth consecutive league win and a 17th in their last 18 games.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Racing Santander 1 - 2 Barcelona: Super sub Messi to the rescue

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score twice as nine-man Barcelona came from behind to beat Racing Santander 2-1 at El Sardinero.

The runaway Primera Liga leaders appeared to be in trouble when Nikola Zigic put the Cantabrians ahead from the penalty spot early in the second half.

But Pep Guardiola turned to Messi in his moment of need and the Argentina forward turned the game on its head with two well-taken goals.

However, the late dismissals of Rafa Marquez and Gerard Pique did take some of the gloss off the result after both players were given their marching orders for second bookable offences in the closing stages.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 3 - 1 Sporting Gijon: Eto'o bags a brace

Samuel Eto'o scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a 10th consecutive Primera Liga win and restored their 12-point lead at the top of the table with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Gijon.

The Cameroon striker gave Pep Guardiola's side the lead with a simple finish after 24 minutes and added a second shortly before the break as the league leaders brushed aside Sporting Gijon with relative ease at the Nou Camp.

Dani Alves then put the Catalans three up after 65 minutes, before Kike Mateo grabbed a consolation for the visitors.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[SBF Cleaner]

the title should be theirs to throw.
another good performance and win by Barcelona.

[lacoruna69]

Real Betis 2 - 2 Barcelona: Eto'o bags a brace again....

Barcelona came from two goals down to snatch a late point in a 2-2 draw away to Real Betis in La Liga.

Melli headed Betis into the lead after 18 minutes and the Andalusians stunned the league leaders as they went two up through Mark Gonzalez seven minutes later.

But Samuel Eto'o pulled a goal back for the Catalans just before half-time after his penalty was parried by Ricardo and the Cameroon striker struck an equaliser six minutes from the end to break Betis' hearts and extend Barcelona's unbeaten league run to 21 games.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[lacoruna69]

Barcelona 1-2 Espanyol: Barca's shocking loss

Ten-man Barcelona saw their lead at the top of the Primera Liga cut to seven points after losing 2-1 at home to bottom club Espanyol in the city's derby at the Nou Camp.

Former Barca player Ivan De La Pena did the damage with two goals shortly after the interval, when the home side were already a man down following the first-half dismissal of Seydou Keita.

Yaya Toure pulled a goal back for the home side not long after that, but Pep Guardiola's men were unable to come back this time and saw their lead cut by Real Madrid, who thrashed Real Betis 6-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

As the title run starts the end, expect more upsets on the way. Even happening in EPL also. Punters should bet on upsets. Top teams drawing at home or losing away to small teams. For the more adventurous, an upset loss by the top team at home. As seen in this case.

[lacoruna69]

Lyon 1 - 1 Barcelona: Henry hands Barca the edge

Thierry Henry earned Barcelona a 1-1 draw on his return to France with a second-half equaliser against Lyon in a thrilling Champions League last-16 first leg at the Stade Gerland.

Les Bleus' all-time leading scorer headed home in the 67th minute to give the Spanish side a precious away goal, putting them in the driving seat ahead of the second leg in a fortnight's time at the Nou Camp.

Barca deserved a share of the spoils although they were dominated early on by Lyon, who opened the scoring in the seventh minute through midfielder Juninho's sensational free-kick.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)

[Cum_Luver]

is Barcelona feeling the pressure or the players are tired ???

[lacoruna69]

Atlético Madrid 4 - 3 Barcelona: Aguero double sinks Barca

Atletico Madrid did arch rivals Real Madrid a huge favour after claiming a stunning 4-3 victory over Primera Liga leaders Barcelona in a breathtaking encounter at the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico fought back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 before Sergio Aguero pounced in the 89th minute to earn the Rojiblancos an unlikely victory and leave Barca with just a four-point lead at the summit.

(excerpt from ESPN Soccernet)